JMM to offer UPA two new names for CM's post

In a fresh bid at government formation in President's Rule-bound Jharkhand, Shibu Soren-led JMM has decided to ask UPA leaders to choose between two new names for the post of chief minister after its first choice was rejected.

In a fresh bid at government formation in President's Rule-bound Jharkhand, Shibu Soren-led JMM has decided to ask UPA leaders to choose between two new names for the post of chief minister after its first choice was rejected.

"Champai Soren's name as my successor to the chief minister's post was rejected. Now, JMM legislature party has decided to ask the UPA central leadership to choose between the two new names of JMM MLAs Nalin Soren and Salkhan Soren for the post," Soren told reporters in Ranchi on Tuesday.

"We will visit Delhi to put forth the latest names before UPA leaders Sonia Gandhi and Lalu Prasad some time after February five," Soren said.

Expressing hope that Gandhi and Prasad would find one of the two names acceptable and a new government could be formed as the assembly had not been dismissed but was only in suspended animation, Soren asserted that JMM was very much in the UPA.

When asked what would happen if UPA leaders rejected even these names, the JMM chief said "We will see if and when such a situation arises."

Jharkhand was brought under President's rule on January 19 after Soren resigned from the chief minister's post on January 12 following his defeat in an assembly bye-election.

The Sorens now being projected as chief ministerial candidates are not related to the JMM supremo. While Nalin Soren (60) was a minister in the erstwhile Shibu Soren cabinet and is MLA from Shikaripara seat, Salkhan Soren (50) represents Gandeya assembly constituency.